HANS GRAM
Hans Gram (b. Copenhagen, Denmark, 20 May 1754; d. Boston, Mass., 28 April 1804) was an organist, composer, and writer. He received a Ph.B. degree at the University of Copenhagen (1772) and later emigrated to the West Indies (ca. 1781). Arriving in Boston in the mid-1780s, he served as organist of the Brattle Street Church (ca. 1790-ca. 1804) and assisted Isaiah Thomas in compiling the third edition of The Worcester Collection. Between 1789 and 1791 Gram published in The Massachusetts Magazine (Boston) a march and four secular songs, including 'The Death Song of an Indian Chief (March 1791), the earliest known orchestral score printed in the United States. Through his associations with composers Oliver Holden, Samuel Holyoke, and perhaps also Jacob Kimball, and the excerpts from European treatises he published in The Massachusetts Compiler (Boston, 1795), he was influen-tial in helping to turn American psalmodists' musical style toward European models.
Amerigrove, Baker's, Bio-bib, Grove, Metcalf, Sonneck-Upton. Also McCormick 1963, p. 74-82, 444-46.
BIND KINGS WITH CHAINS, 1794
ASMI 222
Bind Kings with Chains. From Psalm 149. (An occasional anthem, dedicated to the singing societies of Newburyport, by their humble servant Hans Gram.-Charlestown, October, 1794.)
8 p. 13 x 22.5 cm.
P. [i], caption title; p. [1]-8, music.
1 anthem for 6 voices; full text. Attrib. to Gram. Identified as 1st pr. American composition.
Not in Core Repertory.
Not in Evans (CtY copy on Readex E47066). CtY*, MHi, NBuG. All b.w. Gram, Sacred Lines, & Gram, Resurrection.
NOTE: This piece, with an identical caption but renumbered pages, appears in No. 540, The Worcester Collection, 5th ed. (Boston, 1794) as p. 109-16. The physical similarity between the two printings and their proximity of dates-the Preface of The Worcester Collection is also dated October 1794-suggests that both came from the same press run.
RESURRECTION, 1794
ASMI 223
Resurrection. An Anthem for Easter Sunday. Composed by Mr. Hans Gram. -Charlestown, 1794-
8 p. 13 x 22.5 cm.
P. [1], caption title; p. [1]-8, music.
1 anthem for 4 voices; full text. Attrib. to Gram. Identified as 1st pr. American composition.
Not in Core Repertory.
E47067 (CtY copy on Readex E47066). CtY*, MHi, NBuG. All b.w. Gram, Sacred Lines, & Gram, Bind Kings with Chains.
SACRED LINES, FOR THANKSGIVING DAY, 1793
ASMI 224
Sacred Lines, for Thanksgiving Day, November 7, 1793. Written and set to music by Hans Gram, organist to Brattle Street Church, in Boston. To which are added, several psalm tunes, of different metres. By the same composer. Published according to act of Congress. Printed, typographically, at Boston, by Isaiah Thomas and Ebenezer T. Andrews. Sold at their book-store, No. 45, Newbury Street; by said Thomas in Worcester; and by the booksel-lers in Boston, and elsewhere. - 1793.
16 p. 114 x 24 cm.
Endorsement dated Boston, 2 Oct. 1793. p. [1], t-p.; p. [2], endorsement; p. [3]-16, music. 'We the subscribers have perused a manuscript copy of an Anthem and several Psalm Tunes, composed by Mr. Hans Gram, of Boston, and do readily and chearfully give it as our opinion, that the aforesaid Anthem and Tunes are so well composed, both as to Melody and Harmony, as to render them deserving of a favourable reception from every lover of sacred Music; and we do hereby recommend them to all schools and singing societies both in Town and Country, as suitable compositions to be used on a Thanksgiving Day, etc. [signed] Jacob Kimball. N. Fay. Isaac Lane.' (Endorsement in full.)
6 compositions, incl. 1 set-piece, for 4 voices; full text. T-p. attribs. all to Gram. 16 1st pr. identified. All are American.
No Core Repertory.
E25562; (MWA). CtY copy also on Readex E47066. MWA*, NjPT; also in CtY, MHi, NBuG, b.w. Gram, Bind Kings with Chains, & Gram, Resurrection.
SONNET FOR THE FOURTEENTH OF OCTOBER, 1793
ASMI 225
Sonnet. For the Fourteenth of October, 1793. When were entombed the remains of His Excellency John Hancock, Esq; late governor and commander in chief of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
2.l. 13.5 x 23.5 cm.
Boston Independent Chronicle, 14 Oct. 1793, advertises work for sale. MWA copy has written on t-p., in what appears to be a contemporaneous hand: 'Boston, Printed by Thomas & Andrews, 1793.' 1st l. recto, t-p.; verso, caption title: 'The Music, Taken from an Oratorio by the famous Graun, of Berlin. The Lines, Written and adapted, By Hans Gram, Organist of Brattle Street Church, in Boston.'; 1st 1. verso, 2d 1. recto & verso, music.
1 set-piece for 4 voices; full text. Attrib. to Graun. Identified as 1st Am. pr. Non-American composition.
Not in Core Repertory.
E25563 (MWA). MB, MWA*.
NOTE: E31522, John Warren's An Eulogy on The Honorable Thomas Russell, Esq. (Boston, 1796), also concerns Hans Gram. Bound in at the end is a 3-page item: 'A Monody on the Death of The Honourable Thomas Russell, Esq. Sung after the Eulogy of Doctor John Warren, in the Church in Brattle-Street, on Wednesday, May 4, 1796. Written at the Request of the several societies, of which he was a member. Set to music by Mr. Hans Gram.' The Monody contains only three pages of text, and it appears that the music was never printed.
THE MASSACHUSETTS COMPILER, 1795
ASMI 226
The Massachusetts Compiler of Theoretical and Practical Elements of Sacred Vocal Music. Together with a musical dictionary. And a variety of psalm tunes, chorusses, &c. Chiefly selected or adapted from modern European publications. Published at Boston, February, 1795, according to act of Congress. Printed at Boston, typographically, by Isaiah Thomas and Ebenezer T. Andrews. Sold at their bookstore, No. 45, Newbury Street, and by the other booksellers in Boston-by said Thomas in Worcester, and at Oliver Holden's store in Charlestown.
xxxvi, 71, [1] p. 24 x 28.5 cm.
Preface dated Charlestown, Mass., Feb. 1795, and signed by Hans Gram, Samuel Holyoke, and Oliver Holden. Copyright granted 12 Feb. 1795, District of Massachusetts, to Holyoke and Holden as proprietors (Mass. 1:44). Boston Columbian Centinel, 18 Feb. 1795, advertises work as just published. p. [i], t-p.; p. [ii], 'Advertisement'; p. [iii], 'Preface'; p. [iv], table of contents for 'Introduction'; p. [v]-xxxiii, introduction (p. [v]-xxiv, 'Theoretical Observa-tions'; p. xxiv-xxxiii, 'Part II. Theoretico Practical Observations'; p. [xxxiv]-xxxvi, 'Dictio-nary of Musical Terms'; p. xxxvi, 'Errata'; p. [1]-71, music; p. [72], 'Index.' 'From a former proposal it was designed that the work should appear in six monthly numbers; but, from the advice of literary patrons, in addition to the probability of more directly benefiting perusers, it was thought best to publish the whole in one volume.' (Extract from Advertise-ment.) 'Many American votaries of sacred music, have long since expressed their wishes for a compendium of the genuine principles of that science. At the present period it becomes necessary that greater attention be paid to every mean for improving that important part of divine worship, as good, musical emigrants are daily seeking an asylum in this country. Particular advice and encouragement, upon this subject, has lately been given by literary and eminent characters. [New par.] These circumstances induced the subscribers to associate and prepare for this publication. [New par.] A compilation was judged more eligible than the translating, or republishing of any, particular treatise, especially since the plan of such treatises is generally prolix, and more directly designed for improving the student of instru-mental music. [New par.] With respect to the selection of music, it is necessary to observe, that several of the pieces were not originally composed for sacred words; they were chosen and adapted for furnishing a variety of style from the most modern compositions. [New par.] Thomas Williams' Collection of Music, from which several tunes were taken, was published in London, 1790.' (Extract from Preface.)
78 compositions, incl. 1 anthem, 9 set-pieces, & 2 doxologies, for 2, 3 & 4 voices; full text. Attribs. to Dr. Arne (2), Dr. Arnold (5), Dr. Blow, G. Breillat, Broderip, D[r]. Burney, W. Cole, Darwell, German, Giardini (2), Hans Gram, Handel (7), Haydn & Gram, Dr. Hayes, Holden, S. Holyoke, Jackson, J. Kimball, G. Kirby, C. Lockhart (4), 'Ancient' Lutheran tune, Dr. Madan, B. Milgrove (6), Dr. Edw. Miller (2), H. Purcell, Dr. Randal, Reeve, Rippon's Coll. (2), Dr. R. Rogerson of Boston, Sacchini, Schwindell, W. Selby, W. Shield, Shrubsole, Is. Smith (2), Thorley, Wainwright, J. Walker, Williams' Coll. (15).14 1st pr. identified (ALTON, EDMUND, JEHOVAH SPEAKS, SANDUSKY), also 55 1st Am. pr. (ABRIDGE, ADAMS, ASHBURN, BALTIMORE, BERLIN, BEXLEY, BILNEY, BOWE, BRABROOK, BRECKNOCK, BROMLEY, CLAPHAM, CLEMENTS, CORNWALL, CREA-TION, DEPTFORD, DIRGE, DOXOLOGY (2), DRUMMOND, DURHAM, FRANCE, FUTUR-ITY, HAMPTON, HARK THE HERALD, HARVARD COLLEGE, INGATESTONE, ITALY, KEW, KIDDERMINSTER, LAMBETH, LUDLOW, MANNING, MARLBOROUGH, MIL-BANK, MUNICH, MUSIC, OSNABURGH, PELHAM, PENSANCE, PHILADELPHIA, POR-TUGAL, RICHMOND, ST. JOHN'S, ST. SEBASTIAN'S, SHEERNESS, SOUTHWARK, STRATHAM, SURRY, THANKSGIVING, TRURO, TUNBRIDGE, USTIC, WALWORTH, WASHINGTON). 16 American compositions, 70 non-American, 2 unidentified [2 DOXOLOGIES] (6 attrib. Americans; 70 attrib. non-Americans).
15 Core Repertory (Ist Am. pr. PORTUGAL).
E28848 (MWA). CCC, CLU, CSmH, CtHC, CtY, DLC, ICN (2), MB, MBC, MH (6), Mh-AH (4), MHi, MSaE, MWA, MiU-C*, NBuG, NN, NRU-Mus, NcWsM (3), NjPT, RPB (2), RPJCB.
NOTE: See McCormick 1963, p. 68.
ASMI pp. 290-291.